Kishida Announces Exit From LDP Race, Calls It "First Step To Change"

TOKYO, Aug 14 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday that he will not run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election next month and pledged to take responsibility for a political fundraising scandal.

"As a first step to impress on the public that the LDP has changed, I have decided not to run in the presidential race," Kyodo news agency quoted Kishida as saying at a press conference at the prime minister's office.

LDP lawmakers "should work as one" under a new leader to restore public trust in politics and address various challenges such as implementing measures to curb the declining birthrate in an aging society and to bolster defense capabilities, he added.

Kishida, who hosted the 2023 G7 summit in Hiroshima, has seen his Cabinet's approval ratings plummet to around 20 per cent since the scandal broke late last year.

Kishida, who said he will continue to serve as a "rank-and-file" LDP member, declined to comment on who would be best the choice for next party chief and prime minister.

So far, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is popular with the public, has expressed his intention to run in the LDP presidential election. Ishiba previously served as LDP secretary general, the second-highest position within the ruling party.

Digital Minister Taro Kono, a reform-minded and social media-savvy lawmaker, has informed LDP Vice President Taro Aso of his intention to run, according to a source.

LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi are also among those who may join the race.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO